The purchase of a grave, correctly known as “exclusive right to burial”, may be bought subject to the following rules and regulations. Such rights shall be limited to the period stated within the grant of burial from the date it is granted and shall not exist beyond 99 years at the latest. 

To assist with this process, staff will be available to help with grave selection during office hours. An appointment is recommended. 

1.	A space may be pre purchased on payment of all related fees and charges for the exclusive right of burial. Burial space is a finite resource and scarce. In recognition of this, pre purchase graves attract a premium payment to secure the right of burial. 
2.	The selection of a grave space is, in every case, subject to the approval of Cambridge City Council’s Bereavement Services.
3.	Where the selection of a grave space is not requested by the purchaser, the authority will select a grave space according to the best planning and laying out of the cemetery.  
4.	Grave spaces set out to meet the needs for Muslim burial shall be prepared in strict cemetery order and plan. This is, at all times, at the discretion of Cambridge City Council Bereavement Services.
5.	Interment / grave digging fees are in addition to right to burial fees and are payable when the grave is opened for burial. 
6.	Ownership of exclusive right to burial shall be recorded in the full name of each owner(s). Initials, nicknames or abbreviated names will not be permitted to record ownership, and it is the responsibility of each owner to provide such detail on the appropriate form at the time of purchase.
7.	The exclusive right to burial may not be sold to or held by more than 2 owners. This is due to complications with administrations and registration of the right to burial and transfer of ownership. Each owner will be entitled to be buried in the grave without further permissions, subject to grave capacity/depth. All owners must provide written permission to allow access to the grave, including the opening of the grave or erecting and/or any other work to a memorial.  
8.	The transfer of the ownership of a pre purchased burial plot will follow appropriate due legal process; intestacy rules such as probate, letter of administration, assignment or assent and statutory declaration will be used as appropriate in the individual circumstance. 
9.	There is a fee for transferring the ownership which must be paid before the transfer can take place. 
10.	Two interments will be allowed in purchased graves 7 feet deep with a minimum of six inches in thickness of earth between the coffins. 
11.	Plots will be restricted to 3ft wide and 7ft long allowing maximum coffin size of 30” at the widest point including handles. 

Bereavement Services

Application Form for a
Pre Purchase Burial Plot 

Cambridge City Crematorium
Huntingdon Road
Cambridge
CB3 0JJ

01223 458000
bereavementservices@cambridge.gov.uk
www.bereavement.cambridge.gov.uk

I have read these Terms and Conditions and agree to abide by them. 

Name of first applicant: ………………………………….… Mr/Mrs/Miss/Miss/Dr: ………

Address: ……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
Post Code: …………………………………………………………………

Telephone: …………………………………………………………………

Email Address: ……………………………………………………………

If applicable: 

Name of second applicant: …………………………………….…… Mr/Mrs/Miss/Miss/Dr: ……

Address: ……………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………..
Post Code: …………………………………………………………………

Telephone: …………………………………………………………………

Email Address: ……………………………………………………………

First applicant’s signature: ……………………………….…. Date: …………………………

Second applicant’s signature: ………………………………. Date …………………………..

Please send your completed application to the Bereavement Services office at the address overleaf. Once the paperwork has been processed, you will receive a set of grave deeds in the post. This will display the grant number, the grave number and location, confirming you as the owner/s, the length of the ownership and the amount paid for the plot. Your grave deed must be kept safely and will need to be presented when arranging any burial within the grave.

DATA PROTECTION: The Cambridge City Council will use the information you have provided on this form to facilitate the administration for the purpose of interments. You have the right to see the information held about you and to have any inaccuracies corrected. This information will be held securely for a period of 50 years in line with the Exclusive Right of Burial Period as per the LACO 77 (Local Authority Cemetery Order 1977).

Cambridge City Council Bereavement Services shall retain and process your data in accordance with UK Data Protection and Privacy legislation.

For office use only 
Section: ………………………. 			Grave Number: ………………………..
Deed Number: ……………..…			Receipt Number: ……………………….